UDB boss Ojangole suspended

The embattled Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Development Bank Ltd (UDBL), Ms Patricia Ojangole, has been suspended from office to pave way for the ongoing criminal case of conflict of interest against her.

Ms Ojangole was suspended by Dr Samuel Sejjaaka, the bank board chairman, in a letter dated February, 14, that the Daily Monitor has seen. According to the contents of the letter, Dr Sejjaaka was compelled to suspend Ms Ojangole on the orders of the Inspector General of Government (IGG).

“This is to inform you that I have been directed by the Inspector General of Government to suspend you on grounds of the ongoing criminal prosecution against you on the charge of conflict of interest. Please formally hand over office to Mr Daniel Kaggwa who will be acting CEO in the interim,” the latter reads.

Ms Ojangole was last week arrested, charged and remanded to Luzira prison for a few days in connection to charges of conflict of interest.

AccusationMs Ojangole, 36, is accused of having influenced her own recruitment process that culminated in her appointment as CEO of UDBL, a move which amounts to charge of “conflict of interest”.

The IGG accuses Ms Ojangole of having participated in various processes and proceedings that culminated in her appointment to the position of CEO of the bank on November, 30, 2012, when she signed the employment contract but knowingly failed to disclose the nature of this interest.

In a related development, the Anti-Corruption Court presided over by Justice Lawrence Gidudu, yesterday set Monday next week as the date to start hearing the case.The matter had been scheduled to be heard yesterday but Mr Sydney Asubo, the legal affairs director at the inspectorate, who is prosecuting this matter, was unwell.Ms Ojangole, who appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court yesterday, is also facing a charge of allegedly victimising a whistleblower before the same court.